Structure and Variation of the Mandibular Foramen
- The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the mandible's ramus.
- It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
- The rim of the mandibular foramen can have two distinct anatomies: V-shaped with a groove or horizontally oriented and oval in shape without a groove.
- Rarely, a second mandibular foramen may be present due to a bifid inferior alveolar nerve.
- A doubled mandibular canal on a radiograph can indicate the presence of a second mandibular foramen.
Function of the Mandibular Foramen
- The mandibular nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve, enters through the mandibular foramen and provides motor innervation.
- The inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, travels through the mandibular canal.
- The inferior alveolar nerve exits at the mental foramen and becomes the mental nerve.
- The mandibular nerve provides sensory innervation to the lower teeth, lower lip, and some skin on the lower face.
- The mandibular foramen serves as the entry point for the mandibular nerve and blood vessels into the mandible.
Clinical Significance of the Mandibular Foramen
- Local anesthesia can be injected around the mandibular foramen to numb the mandibular nerve.
- Anesthetic around the mandibular foramen can numb the lower teeth and some skin on the lower face.
- The mandibular foramen is important for dental anesthesia and pain management.
- Anesthetic techniques involving the mandibular foramen are commonly used in veterinary medicine.
- Proper identification and understanding of the mandibular foramen are crucial for successful dental restraint and anesthesia.
Mandibular Foramen in Other Animals
- The mandibular foramen is also found in other mammals, such as horses.
- Its structure and function in other animals are similar to that in humans.
- The mandibular foramen plays a role in sensory innervation of the lower teeth and surrounding areas in other mammals.
- Comparative studies of the mandibular foramen in different animal species provide insights into its evolutionary significance.
- The presence and characteristics of the mandibular foramen can vary across different animal species.
Additional Facts about the Mandibular Foramen
- The rim of the mandibular foramen can have two distinct anatomies: V-shaped with a groove or horizontally oriented and oval in shape without a groove.
- The presence of a second mandibular foramen can be detected by noting a doubled mandibular canal on a radiograph.
- The common form of the mandibular foramen has a V-shaped rim with a groove.
- The horizontal-oval form of the mandibular foramen has a horizontally oriented and oval-shaped rim without a groove.
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2015) |
The mandibular foramen is an opening on the internal surface of the ramus of the mandible. It allows for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through.
Mandibular foramen | |
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The mandibular foramen sits in the ramus of the mandible | |
![]() Mandible viewed from the inner side of the mandible, showing the mandibular foramen at left. | |
Details | |
Part of | mandible |
System | skeletal |
Identifiers | |
Latin | foramen mandibulae |
TA98 | A02.1.15.028 |
TA2 | 865 |
FMA | 53172 |
Anatomical terms of bone |